Mike

About Mike

Mike gets all the racing games because he understands that stuff even though he doesn't drive.
I do love being impressed. In this job, almost everything is new to me but I never get tired of seeing new ideas work brilliantly. Coming from a single developer, Sam Enright has managed to pull together a visually impressive and cohesive universe whilst also providing a smart role-playing experience. […]

Beyond Galaxyland – PS5 Review

 in PS5 / Reviews  tagged 2.5d / adventure / aliens / beyond galaxyland / photography / platforming / puzzles / sam enright / sci fi / space / turn-based rpg by
I’m no Disney sicko but Mickey Mouse has found himself in more good games than most. The jug-eared mascot has particularly flourished in platformers and Disney Epic Mickey was received relatively kindly when it released on the Wii. 14 years later, a revitalised version has reached current consoles. Purple Lamp […]

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed – PS5 Review

 in PS5 / Reviews  tagged captain hook / disney epic mickey rebrushed / donald duck / fantasia / goofy / mickey mouse / oswald / painting / peter pan / platforming / purple lamp / sidescroller by
For over a decade, the Test Drive series had laid dormant. Now in the corporate hands of Nacon, the open-world car lifestyle simulator has returned. KT Racing have shown an aptitude for solid handling and replicating large environments, but Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, lacks the soul of the originals. […]

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown – PS5 Review

 in PS5 / Reviews  tagged always online / digital tourism / driving / festival / hong kong island / luxury cars / multiplayer / open world / racing / test drive unlimited solar crown / time trials by
There’s a lot I take for granted with NBA 2K25. The series has always looked authentic and kept the presentation to a high level. It’s no different here with the commentary remaining insightful, if bordering on repetitive. Arenas and players look accurate with the court-side activity remaining lively and active. […]

NBA 2K25 – PS5 Review

 in PS5 / Reviews  tagged basketball / career mode / larry bird / lebron james / magic johnson / michael jordan / NBA 2K25 / sports / steph curry / team-building / visual concepts / women by
I think I like the mood Atari is in. Their output from a preservationist standpoint has been cool and they have attempted to revive or reimagining some of their old classics. They don’t always hit but their willingness to try has been really admirable. Their latest attempt is Yars Rising, […]

Yars Rising – PS5 Review

 in PS5 / Reviews  tagged 2d sidescroller / alien invasion / atari / metroidvania / nostalgia / search action game / stealth / tech corporation / yar's revenge / yars rising by
Tennis games feel few and far between and it seems like an age since they were truly great. Top Spin might be back on the menu these days but, aside from that, Big Ant Studios appear to be the only studio available to bring a licensed version of the racquet […]

Tiebreak: Official Game of the ATP and WTA – PS5 ...

 in PS5 / Reviews  tagged big ant studios / career mode / creation tools / novak djokovic / online multiplayer / sports / tennis / tiebreak official game of the atp and wta by
It’s been a long, long while since I’ve ventured into a classic adventure game. It was never really a genre that was on my radar and I prefer my games to be more action packed and visceral. On top of that, I was never a PC gamer when the genre […]

Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse Remastered – PS4 Review

 in PS4 / Reviews  tagged detective work / episodic / gumshoe / hard boiled / lucas arts / point and click adventure / sam & max the devil's playhouse remastered / supernatural / telltale games by
I do enjoy racing games that focus heavily on self improvement. Give me a marker to beat and I’ll happily bang my head against it for enough time to be annoyed. Coming from Ghosts, Phantom Spark looks to tap into this compulsion and, whilst it really nails the controls and […]

Phantom Spark – PS5 Review

 in PS5 / Reviews  tagged chill vibes / ghosts / local multiplayer / Momentum / online leaderboards / phantom spar / racing / time trials / trackmania / wipeout / zen by
There’s always a question of commerce versus preservation when remastered are involved. There will always be technical reasons why a game sees a re-release but how long does it to take before the classics are all dealt with? Star Wars: Bounty Hunter is not a classic. LucasArts’ original 2002 release […]

Star Wars: Bounty Hunter – PS5 Review

 in PS5 / Reviews  tagged aspyr / droids / jango fett / jetpack / Lucasarts / platforming / space opera / star wars bounty hunter / third-person shooter by
The indie space is full of search action games that don’t always manage to set themselves apart. Frontier Hunter: Erza’s Wheel of Fortune comes from IceSeaTeam and, after a long spell in early access, the full product is available for Playstation 5. What arrives is a fully-baked effort that, whilst […]

Frontier Hunter: Erza’s Wheel of Fortune – PS5 Review

 in PS5 / Reviews  tagged 2d exploration / frontier hunter erza's wheel of fortune / gunplay / iceseateam / loot / melee combat / metroidvania / search action game / turret sequence by
1
Graven is certainly aiming at a specific inspiration. A first-person shooter set in a dark fantasy world, it looks to scratch that Hexxen itch. Slipgate Ironworks and 3D Realms are waist-deep in the genre but, even with all that experience, the Playstation 5 port remains troubled. Let’s get the bad […]

Graven – PS5 Review

 in PS5 / Reviews  tagged 3d realms / bows and arrows / fantasy hexxen / graven / magic / melee combat / plague / quests journal / retro first-person shooter / slipgate ironworks by